erability came in waves. Some days, being with Damien felt as natural as breathing. Other days, the intimac

was somewhe

ng him move around the space with easy familiarity. The domesticity of the scene should have sent her

sked, already reac

ulling the shirt down over her thighs. "I should pro

y seven. Yo

ma. This was dangerous territory-the comfortable morning routine, the casual intimacy of shared sp

Damien asked, settling across

mal this

that

I've never been

e you bee

it. In the three weeks they'd been together, they'd shared their bodies, their desi

finally. "Proving my

ind of

was the conversation she'd been avoiding, the one that would requir

from getting close enough t

ession soften

. disappeared one day. Left a note sa

e about the note, about the way her father had reduced their

ever com

aiting for him to change his mind, to remember he had a wife and daughter w

counter, covering her ha

o matter how much you love them, no matter how much you th

cided to l

anyone enough for the

hat working

s thumb was tracing circles on her wrist. The honest answer was that it had worked perfectly unti

a month,"

lan

something between hope and fear. A month implied continuity, implied t

phone buzzed on the counter. He glanced at it, his express

g okay?" J

st... wor

easy intimacy of the morning felt suddenly fragile, as if the

sliding off the stool. "

ght her hand as sh

ght w

something terrible on Netflix, preten

ainty in his expression, she realized that he was taking the same risk she was. Whatever had been in that text messag

d. "But I'm pic

ea

rson Group decided they wanted to completely revamp their campaign strategy three weeks before launch. By th

she had the energy for the kind of emotional intimacy their relationship seemed to require. It would be so easy to

issing another chance to be with him, felt worse th

opened it, the relief on his face t

, taking the food and

ts about everything, my assistant quit via text me

e he

what she'd been craving without realizing it-not just physical comfort, but the sense of having som

e asked aft

ing t

h her feet tucked under her. The food was good, the wine was b

ay," she said when th

al excitement of building

t really a

with her hair. "I got a call from my ex-business pa

did he

e's launching a new firm, want

d settle in her stomach

one word

conside

er, probably better than what

ut

for a reason. Severa

tension in his jaw, the way his eyes

great until it's not. Marcus wanted to expand faster than we could sustain, take on

eed about busi

company we wanted to be. It got ugly, and when the dust settle

e your b

the paperwork in the beginning, too trusting. By the

all this time. She understood now why he'd been so careful about building his new

rry," s

be more careful a

e was part of that caution, if his careful approach to their relationshi

you going t

at I'm building something he

ng that

b tracing across her cheekbone. "I'm not

r familiar flight response. The evening had taken a turn toward serious, towar

" she said, pulling back

deflected, he didn't comment.

e stress of the day and the complicated emotions that Damien's confession had stirred up. She was so lost in thou

, his voice rough. "

ms came around her like a shelter. The vulnerability of being naked together under

sorry," sh

ize every curve and hollow. When his mouth found the sensitive spot where her

l day," he murmured against her s

out last

apart in my arms. The sounds you

pite the steam and slick surfaces. Being desired with such intensity, being

breathed, hi

what yo

Just

wall. The tile was cold against her skin, a sharp contrast to

," he said.

lications of the outside world in the connection between them. The water cascaded over them, making everything slippe

was ready to name. It was different from their previous encounters-rawer, more emotio

thing hard, hearts racing. Jade felt like she'd been turned inside ou

y?" Damien a

tted. "I've never felt a

e wh

ht actually

most honest thing she'd said to anyone. The admission hung

be so terrib

d be ter

ot ter

eyes. She thought about her father's note, about all the ways people had disappointed her over the

efore Damien, how the success she'd worked so hard f

d finally. "N

the careful balance of professional and personal that they'd been trying to maintain. But somethin

from Damien. She caught herself thinking about him during client meetin

always avoided, and exactly the kind of happi

ya appeared in her office doorway,

e here to see y

ny appointments

n old friend. V

ade Jade look up from her

Richa

law school, to the relationship that had taught her everything she nee

lable," she said, her

s he'll

where else. I have nothing

really determined to see you. Ma

than Jade intended. "I'm not s

sily. He'd never been good at accepting rejection, had always bel

t from an unknown number: I'm not leaving until w

seven years, had built a life that had no room for the complications he represented. The last t

h a message from Damien: Dinner tonig

when she was ready to move forward, the

both messages when Maya k

"And he's ordered coffee. I th

ce, avoid the confrontation entirely. But that would mean leaving David in her

whatever he wanted, and get him

But give me five minutes, then interrupt us

t i

at the mention of David's name had threatened to topple. By the time h

, conventionally handsome, with the kind of confident smile

the chair across from her desk without

you wan

ess. I always love

It doesn't wor

about your promotion. Senior partner a

e here to congratulate m

ned forward, his expression becoming

feelings she'd had for David were long dead. But the words still hit her like

tions," she

's everything I thought I wanted. Beautif

'll be very h

, I'm not sur

never been able to resist the urge to keep his options ope

my problem

omething special, J

ng. You made

d, afraid of commitment. But I've gr

atters is disrupting my life

think what really matters is not making the same mista

ce. I'm not available

seeing s

is research before showing up. The knowledge that he'd been i

ife is none of

for someone who can't gi

ctly do I des

worth. Someone who's w

they just sounded like lines from a bad romantic comedy. David

to leave,"

l you hea

heard

ing the same mistake I did. Choosing safety over passion, settling f

anything about m

d rather be alone than vulnerable. I know you're probably already pl

fears Jade had been trying to ignore. But befor

terrupt, but your four

up, moving toward the door. "D

e. "This isn'

ver for seven years. Don

way to the door, he paused, close enough that she could smell

things get complicated, when you start pulling

t o

happened. David's words echoed in her head, mixing with her own fears

essage from Damien: Everything o

vid's voice whispering in her

on work. But concentration was impossible. David's visit had stirred up t

en? Was she already planning her exit

the next morning. When Damien texted asking about dinner, she mad

ps got too close to the dangerous territory of forever. The onl

, she didn't kn

lence later, Damien sh

he said, closing

m b

ding. There's

tension in his shoulders. He looked like a man who'd been pushed to his limit,

iding. I'm

days to avoid dealing with wha

going on

r desk. "Three days ago, we were closer than we've ever

e or client demands. But looking at him, seeing the genuine c

howed up

he

o. Right here

did he

ed. And to suggest that I'm se

on darkened. "And

w what I bel

him enough to

you out. I'm jus

tting tired of being punished

mien for David's sins, for her father's abandonment, for every

time," s

self that what we have isn't rea

ay

. For a moment, his anger faded, replaced

t dictate your future, that's your choice. But I won't s

at suppose

It means if you want to throw away what we have because some asshole from

ow, but before she could respond, Da

he called

and on the doork

go. P

a reason

wounded him. She thought about David's words, about the patterns that had sh

ve you," she

and terrifying. Jade had never said them to anyone, had nev

slowly, his expressio

scares the he

hy

ow to need someone without losing myself. Because loving you means

ements careful, deliberate. "And what did

you wouldn't fight for me w

am, fighti

you

hat tell you ab

man who had shown up at her office demanding answers, who had been w

as wrong,"

ut w

ut me being the same woma

e y

know. I h

chair and into his arms. "You're not. The woman I fell

in love

Terrifyingly.

t of her resistance. This was what she'd been afraid of-not just loving

ed against his chest. "I

ould have shown up sooner,

e here

here

own, as if they were both trying to make up for the lost days,

" Jade said ag

lace or

our bed. I want to forget about David an

e kept her hand on Damien's thigh, needing the physical conn

control. The moment they were inside, Damien pressed her against the

etween kisses. "Three day

ou too. I m

as an urgency to their movements that hadn't been there before, a desperation born

ike she was coming home after a long journey. This was where she bel

ds tangling in his hair. "I nee

e. All of m

eight of the words they'd finally spoken. It was passionate and desperate and overwhelmin

s name and a prayer and a promise all at once. Damien followed her over

said quietly. "In cas

inst his chest.

n to keep saying it

ieve i

yo

tartin

f a new version of herself-one who was brave enough to love and be loved

pped in his arms, Jade felt like she'd finally found the place where she belonge

as ready to see what happened when sh